Don’t look now, but not only are the Nuggets holding their own since the departure of SF Carmelo Anthony and PG Chauncey Billups, they’re actually thriving. With Saturday’s 30-point blowout of the Pistons, they’re 7-2 since the blockbuster trade that was supposed to kick-start a lengthy rebuilding process, but instead seems to have gotten the team geared up for a stretch drive.

For the players, the change from dealing with the Anthony situation to simply playing has been a relief.

“Just playing basketball like we all grew up playing,” guard J.R. Smith said. “Kind of like organized pickup. You're out there running and playing.”

In what’s become typical Nuggets fashion, Denver had eight players score in double figures on Saturday. Nuggets coach George Karl says he is surprised about how well the new guys have played, but after watching them in practice, he could almost see this coming.

“I think the biggest thing is every player is better than I thought they were,” Karl said, according to the Denver Post. “I’m not going to tell you exactly what I thought they were, but I’ve been surprised by Kostas Koufos to the kid Timo (Timofey Mozgov) to Raymond (Felton) to Gallo (Danilo Gallinari) to Wilson (Chandler). They are all exciting to me. I missed the first practice, I was there for the second practice; and the second practice was, ‘Ooh, this is good.’ It didn’t take a week for me to get enthusiastic about these guys. It was before we won a game. I thought we could be good.”

It’s good timing for the Nuggets, who are holding on to the No. 5 seed in the West. The Hornets are just behind them at No. 6, and Denver will play in New Orleans on Monday.